GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE DIFFICULT DECISIONS From short-range and handheld technology to long-range solutions, the ground-based air defence market is being kept busy as nations begin to replace outdated systems and add new capabilities to their inventories. By Beth Maundrill

Land Ceptor testing was carried out in expensive [and] only a few very high-end a letter of acceptance to acquire the in 2018. (Photo: UK MoD) countries really needed. Now that Russia is weapon system in August. back as a high-end military threat – but Following on from the latter, the OEM s fifth- and sixth-generation also [with] Chinese, North Korean and received a $692.9 million contract from the fighter jets, unmanned aircraft Iranian developments – it’s become US Army in December to produce Patriot A and high-tech and ballistic something that is much more seen as systems for Sweden. At the time of the technologies enter more countries’ worth the investment than it was in the award, a Raytheon spokesperson noted that inventories, ground forces need to be past,’ he continued. the procurement will provide joint training able to keep up with the new demands However, acquiring air defence systems opportunities for the Swedish and US armed that these air threats impose and apply is not as simple as it may seem, and the forces, and enhance military interoperability. the appropriate defensive capability. procurement of big-ticket items can have Potential sales could also be made in Looking at the wide range of ground- wider implications. Turkey. At the end of last year, the US DoD based air defence (GBAD) programmes made a determination approving a potential that are being actioned worldwide, there Patriot games FMS of Patriot MIM-104E Guidance has been a definite change in the One of the most dominant products on the Enhanced (GEM-T) and PAC-3 landscape for such solutions. market has been Raytheon’s Patriot missile Missile Segment Enhancements (MSE) to ‘I think what has changed is not really system, which has won the custom of Ankara. In a package worth $3.5 billion, the system, but it’s mainly the fact that numerous nations. However, the solution is Turkey has requested four AN/MPQ-65 the ballistic missile threat has become not affordable for everyone, and short- sets, four engagement control much more apparent, so there’s more of range requirements also open up stations, ten antenna mast groups, 20 an awareness of the threat,’ commented opportunities for other industry players to M903 launch stations, 80 GEM-T missiles Justin Bronk, research fellow and editor compete for GBAD programmes. with canisters, 60 PAC-3 MSEs and five of RUSI Defence Systems at the Royal Starting with Patriot, Raytheon saw a lot electrical powerplants. United Services Institute for Defence of success in 2018, with contracts However, it should be noted that while and Security Studies. confirmed in both (in the spring) the US DoD has approved this sale, it ‘I think in the past, it was viewed as a and Romania (in May) through FMS via the has not yet gone ahead. This ongoing sort of fairly niche thing that was incredibly US government. In addition, Sweden signed discussion regards more than just the

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Notably, Turkey has also previously that there are no other options on the Now that Russia benefitted from the deployment of market that are really able to meet the American- and German-owned Patriot increasing threat from ballistic missiles is back as a systems within its borders. being developed by the likes of North high-end military threat, However, at the time of writing, it was Korea and others. ballistic missiles have unclear which way Turkey will swing. If it Perhaps one of the only other comparable selects Patriot, it will have to cancel its systems is the Terminal High-Altitude Area become something that order for S-400s as this is a condition set Defense (THAAD) weapon system, although is much more seen as by the US. The clock is therefore ticking the Patriot is seen as a lower-tier solution by worth the investment for a procurement decision, as the S-400 comparison. THAAD is managed by the US systems are set to be delivered as early Missile Defense Agency, and Lockheed than in the past. as summer 2019. Martin serves as the prime contractor. THAAD uses hit-to-kill technology to Tiered solutions destroy a target with direct impact, Since Turkey is a NATO member, it is neutralising lethal threats before they acquisition of an air defence system. If somewhat obvious why the US would want reach protected assets on the ground. The Turkey were to select Patriot, it could go to steer it away from Russian equipment. system is rapidly deployable, mobile and some way to repairing the nation’s However, it is not the only country set to interoperable with other ballistic missile relationship with Washington, which has acquire the S-400, as has also defence elements, including Aegis, Patriot/ been strained recently due to various expressed interest in the system. PAC-3, forward-based sensors and C2, battle factors, including the withdrawal of US It was announced on 5 October 2018 management and communications systems. troops in Syria. that Rosoboronexport had signed a deal The US Army is one of three customers One issue is that Turkey has already to supply S-400s to India. At the time of for the THAAD, alongside Saudi Arabia and committed to the acquisition of Russian the announcement, Alexander Mikheev, the UAE, and the service is planning to link Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) head of the state organisation, said: ‘The it to the Patriot. It has been reported that long-range surface-to-air missiles. The contract… is the biggest for the entire THAAD and Patriot systems are expected to order for the S-400 was placed in 2017 period of military-technical cooperation be working together by the end of 2020 as and made Ankara the second export between Russia and India, and the largest a result of accelerating operational needs customer for the type, after China. ‘It’s in the history of Rosoboronexport. Today, on the Korean peninsula. clearly very important for US-Turkey we begin to execute it.’ The UAE was the first foreign partner to relations in the context that if Patriot One reason for this battle between procure the THAAD system, with a contract were procured, it would be instead of the the Patriot and its Russian competitor is awarded in December 2011. S-400 system,’ said Bronk. As well as the political fall-out that could come with either choice, Turkey must consider the capabilities of each system. Essentially, the S-400 offers a higher range of 400km if it is sold with the 40N6 missile, compared to Raytheon’s product, which is typically sold with a 35km-range PAC-3. Furthermore, the S-400’s radar, the 55Zh6UE NEBO-UE, has a detection range MINE BRIDGE ROUTE PROOFING MINE BREACHING LAUNCHING AND CLEARANCE CLEARANCE of over 400km, while Patriot’s sits at 100km with the AN/MPQ-65 radar set, according to Shephard Plus data. As well as the technical specifications, the compatibility of the weapon system with other military assets is important – the nation has selected the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, for example. To have full air power capability and fly the fifth-generation aircraft, Turkey will need a GBAD network that can communicate and transfer data with air assets. The Russian system would simply be incompatible with the US-made jets and many other NATO platforms.

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The US Army is working on linking its THAAD system to the Patriot. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

cost interceptor missile. As part of Phase I, Raytheon will deliver 200 PAC-3 missiles, and for Phase II there will be the option of the Rafael SkyCeptor interceptor. As well as increasing the number of Patriot systems in its inventory, Warsaw is looking at procuring a short-range air defence capability under its Narew programme. Raytheon and its partner Kongsberg will be offering the National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) to satisfy this requirement, Baird confirmed. ‘The Narew competition was going through a series of technical dialogues and so forth, just like the Wisła competition [did]. It’s kind of on hold, waiting for the The I-Dome from Rafael is a version of Iron Dome integrated onto a single truck. (Image: Rafael) Polish MoD to decide which way they want to go. [Warsaw is] looking at potentially combining it with Wisła through the US. If Phase change John Baird, VP for Poland integrated air that happens then they’ll go through a Meanwhile, Raytheon has continued and missile defence at Raytheon, told certain acquisition route,’ Baird explained. discussions with Poland over Patriot, after Shephard during the MSPO 2018 event The final decision on Wisła is expected in the country opted for the system in March (held in Kiełce, Poland) that discussions on 2019, but the precise date for the contract 2018, in addition to a lower-tier air defence Phase II began in April, almost immediately signing is yet to be announced. solution under the same agreement. after the Phase I agreement was signed. An alternative solution to the mid-range As part of this second phase of Baird detailed the additional NASAMS could be the MBDA Common Warsaw’s Wisła programme, the Eastern technologies that the government is Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM)-ER European nation is looking for an looking for in Phase II, including a 360˚ interceptor, which was also promoted at additional 16 Patriot fire units which AESA radar, various Polish-built sensors MSPO 2018. For Poland, the company would equip eight batteries. and and the integration of a low- would supply the launch vehicle and C2,

12 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1 WWW.LANDWARFAREINTL.COM GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE radar and EO/IR systems. The overall joint effort has already enjoyed global government-to-government sale with package is modular, so it can integrate success. In December last year, the US the US. NASAMS should replace old various indigenous systems if required. State Department approved the potential 1960s-vintage Russian-sourced MBDA is hoping that the joint UK-Poland FMS of NASAMS to in a package S-125M Pechora air defence systems. Treaty on Defence and Security worth $215 million. Meanwhile, smaller nations such as Co-operation that was signed in 2017 will Doha has requested the system along are seeking similar solutions help position its capabilities for Narew. with Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air to bolster their overall military might. In order to have a full spectrum of air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and related equipment Speaking to Shephard, Giedrimas defence capabilities, it is important to have and support. This includes 40 AIM 120C-7 Jeglinskas, Lithuania’s Vice Minister for lower-tier solutions working alongside the AMRAAMs, one spare AIM 120C-7 AMRAAM Defence, said: ‘[The] air defence that we likes of Patriot. ‘For example, if you wanted guidance section, one spare AIM-120C-7 procured is mid-range. We procured… what to reinforce the Baltic states or deploy control section, eight AMRAAM captive air we could, but of course everybody’s dream forces forward somewhere to reinforce [but training missiles, missile containers, is [to acquire] Patriots, but our budget it] was covered by hostile air defences, you classified software for the AN/MPQ-64F1 cannot digest that – it’s impossible.’ would very much want to have ground- Sentinel radar, cryptographic and He noted that the threat from based air defences that you deploy communication security devices and neighbouring Russia is very real and said alongside your forces on the ground to give precision navigation equipment. that air defence systems need be effective them a way of repelling everything, from The AMRAAM is a derivative of in order for anti-access area denial in the hostile air attack to potentially short-range Raytheon’s AIM-120. The NASAMS Kaliningrad exclave not to work. missile attack, cruise missiles, even indirect capability would provide protection against Lithuania originally opted to procure fire,’ Bronk explained. hostile cruise missiles, UAVs and rotary- NASAMS in October 2016, and Kongsberg and fixed-wing aircraft threats. will supply the country’s MoD with a new air Bolstering strength In addition, despite looking to Russia defence system under a $128 million While Poland may still be on the fence for its high-end GBAD capability, India contract that was announced on 26 about NASAMS, the Raytheon/Kongsberg is looking to acquire NASAMS II via a October 2017. TITUS® Mission Orchestration

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A MEADS multifunction fire control radar, launcher and battle manager shown in German configuration. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

It is likely then that Lithuania – and other Radar, or CEATAC, has been specifically Later in 2018, the first firing trials of the nations which find themselves in the same designed for carriage by the Australian- ’s Land Ceptor missile system – position – will rely on NATO partners to help designed and -built Thales Hawkei. part of Sky Sabre – were carried out near provide higher-end capabilities. According to the Australian DoD, the the Baltic Sea on a Swedish test range. This Other customers of NASAMS are , prototype represents the first step in was the first time Land Ceptor had been , , , the , integration with NASAMS under the test-fired as a whole system, including the , Oman, and the US. SRGBAD project. Saab Giraffe radar. It will now undergo The UK MoD is continuing testing and further development and trials before Sky Prototype progress development of its Sky Sabre air defence Sabre enters service in the early 2020s. GBAD solutions are also making up part of solution, which includes an MBDA Elsewhere, to provide the lowest layer of bespoke national assets that include launcher that fires the CAMM missile its multi-layered air defence capability, Israel domestic capabilities such as the missile, alongside the Saab Giraffe radar targeting uses the Rafael-developed Iron Dome, which radar or vehicle. system. It also includes a Rafael control has served the nation’s air and missile For instance, on 10 April 2017, Raytheon electronics suite. defence network since achieving operational Australia was announced as sole supplier Speaking at the unveiling of the system capability in 2011. The system has been for Canberra’s short-range GBAD (SRGBAD) in early 2018, Air Cdre Ian Gale, senior widely reported to have been used against requirement under Project Land 19 responsible officer for its introduction, said: hostile rockets in Israel. Phase 7B. The package will include other ‘You are seeing the future here today, you The combat-proven Iron Dome has indigenous industry products, with a CEA can’t replace like for like in the digital age. achieved more than 1,700 combat Technologies phased-array radar and the ‘This will take the army from short to interceptions at a success rate of over 90%, Thales Hawkei protected military vehicle medium range. It is a truly integrated air according to the OEM. Ten Iron Dome being possible inclusions. defence system that will be operated both batteries protect Israel. At Australia’s 2019 Land Forces event, by the army and the . It has At Eurosatory 2018, Rafael unveiled the CEA Technologies showcased the first-of- significant benefits: it’s fast, reliable and I-Dome, an integrated version that sees all type, land-based prototype radar of its highly trusted,’ he added. Sky Sabre was unveiled systems installed on a single truck. The successful maritime-based AESA. The at the home of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, I-Dome consists of ten Tamir interceptor prototype, referred to as the CEA Tactical Baker Barracks on Thorney Island. missiles, plus radar and battle

14 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1 WWW.LANDWARFAREINTL.COM GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE management and weapon control systems. System (MEADS) technology, to provide on military capabilities, transparency The solution is aimed for the protection 360° mobile air and missile defence and risk management to ensure a of motorised and mechanised units in coverage for the accurate identification successful contract.’ addition to point air defence. and defeat of threats. Thus far, this programme has been a Rafael has teamed with Raytheon in Industrial participation in MEADS slow-moving one. The mobile MEADS order to market Iron Dome within the US. comprises 25% from Germany, 16.6% by entered development in 2004, and so The latter company is working towards a and 58.3% US input. MBDA and far, Germany is the only known customer production variant of Iron Dome, known as Lockheed have invested heavily in the for the system. the SkyHunter missile, which could be used system, but it was rejected by the US Army MEADS will be introduced to replace to defend forward-deployed US forces. in 2011, with the service instead opting Germany’s Patriot systems. However, for an upgraded Patriot solution from rival recent contract awards indicate that Acquisition reform manufacturer Raytheon due to cost. Patriot is still appearing to reign supreme Germany is also on the path to acquiring a However, things are looking a lot more as one of the preferred air defence new air defence capability under its next- promising in the bid for the German contract. capabilities across Europe. generation air and missile defence system In mid-2018, Lockheed and MBDA received As long as the proliferation of high-tech programme (TLVS). a second RfP to develop the TLVS. MEADS is missile and ballistic technologies continues, In an effort to secure the contract, the preferred system for Germany over there will be an ongoing need for nations Lockheed Martin and MBDA Deutschland Patriot, subject to successful development. to acquire more up-to-date defensive have formed a new JV which would manage Speaking at the time of the award, capabilities that can provide an entire the programme should MBDA’s bid be Dietmar Thelen, MD of the TLVS JV, said: umbrella of protection for ground forces signed off with the Procurement Office for ‘This second RfP is based on the first. It and other assets. the German Armed Forces. addresses the results of our negotiations Where there are gaps in air defence, MBDA submitted its proposal for the and aligns the TLVS offering with there will continue to be an increased programme in late 2016. The offer is based Germany’s new approach to acquisition drive – especially within NATO – to offer on its Medium Extended Air Defense reform, called Agenda Rüstung, focusing burden-sharing for this kind of protection. ■

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